Cremo, Scotia reach final

Junior scores 33 points to set up matchup for title against Schenectady

Scotia's Joe Cremo takes the ball to the hoop during the Hilliard Tournament game against Newburgh Free Academy at Schenectady High School, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Dan Little/ Special to the Times Union) less

Scotia's Joe Cremo takes the ball to the hoop during the Hilliard Tournament game against Newburgh Free Academy at Schenectady High School, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Dan Little/ Special to the ... more

Photo: Dan Little

Photo: Dan Little

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Scotia's Joe Cremo takes the ball to the hoop during the Hilliard Tournament game against Newburgh Free Academy at Schenectady High School, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Dan Little/ Special to the Times Union) less

Scotia's Joe Cremo takes the ball to the hoop during the Hilliard Tournament game against Newburgh Free Academy at Schenectady High School, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Dan Little/ Special to the ... more

Photo: Dan Little

Cremo, Scotia reach final

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Schenectady

Joe Cremo is the epitome of the Scotia boys' basketball squad's team concept, yet the junior standout also possesses a killer instinct on the hardwood.

When the Tartans truly needed a boost Friday night, Cremo inevitably was the guy to get the job done.

Cremo scored 15 of his game-high 33 points in the second quarter — making all six shots from the field — before suffering an ankle injury.

Cremo returned and teamed with senior Alex Sausville in the second half to keep Newburgh Free Academy at bay with clutch baskets as the Tartans recorded a 79-65 victory over the Goldbacks in the opening round of the Arthur Hilliard Memorial Tournament at Pat Riley Center.

In the second contest, Schenectady placed four players in double figures and withstood a school-record 44-point onslaught by Columbia junior forward Jahlil Nails in delivering a thrilling 81-78 triumph.

The Tartans (6-0), rated No. 3 in the state Class A rankings, and Patriots (4-3) collide for the championship at 7:30 Saturday.

"Scotia is very, very good. There is a reason why they have an undefeated record," Schenectady coach Eric Loudis said. "They play well together, they play hard and they share."

Cremo actually missed his first four shots of the game before finishing 12-for-21 from the field. He also contributed 10 rebounds and five steals.

"Joe is a big-time player. The bigger the game, the bigger Joe is going to play as we saw here," Scotia coach Jim Giammattei said. "He got off to a slow start, but I knew he was going to stick with it. That is what Joe Cremo is capable of."

Newburgh Free Academy (4-1), ranked No. 12 in Class AA, led 18-15 after one quarter before Cremo scored the first three baskets for the Tartans in the second quarter and later sparked a 13-0 surge with a steal and conversion.

The 6-foot-3 standout also answered a 3-pointer by Donovan Fields with one of his own as Scotia led 41-35 at halftime.

"Sometimes, my team needs me to score the ball. I took it upon myself to step up," Cremo said.

"Sometimes, we have a little bit of a lull. Once we start going, we string them off," Sausville said.

Sausville, the son of former Schenectady coach and current Scotia assistant Mark Sausville, contributed 24 points. He helped offset the loss of Mike Palleschi, who fouled out with 6:02 remaining.

"Huge, in every way imaginable," Sausville said of the win. "They were good and, obviously, being in this gym means a lot to me."

"We needed this game, we needed this competition and we wanted this game," Giammattei said. "They have to learn to play in these games all the way through."

The second game featured 19 lead changes and six ties.

Nails, who broke Conrad Zampier's school mark of 43 points and tied John Lyons for Columbia's school record for 3-pointers in a game with nine, provided the Blue Devils the lead on consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Each time, Schenectady eighth-grade point guard Tobias Holmes (18 points, six assists and six steals) responded with a 3-pointer.

His third 3-pointer of the final quarter tied the game at 71.

Keishaun Wheelings (17 points, 14 rebounds) hit a foul shot with 8.7 second left and Columbia's Justin Luther missed on a baseline 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"It is very disappointing to come out of here with a loss. We played very hard," Nails said. "(Schenectady) played hard and physical. I think they were a little more physical than we were."

"I put it on the board before the game: 'This is our tournament.' You don't want to be playing at 5:30 (Saturday)," Loudis said. "Having Scotia on the other side of the bracket brings a little bit of a rivalry that we have not had."